Michael Carbone: How to get money into R.I. economy

Wednesday

May 28, 2014 at 4:34 PM

In his May 25 letter (“How would tax cuts spur business?”), Bill Ryding argues: “we need more money in the economy to increase demand, and tax breaks for business do not increase the spending power of consumers.”

In his May 25 letter (“How would tax cuts spur business?”), Bill Ryding argues: “we need more money in the economy to increase demand, and tax breaks for business do not increase the spending power of consumers.”

While he is correct, he omits saying how to get this money into the Rhode Island economy. Might taxes be raised so that welfare benefits could be increased, thereby affording those on welfare more spending power?

I think not!

How about lowering taxes by lowering welfare benefits to those who abuse the system or don’t deserve them anyway?

How about taking welfare benefits away from those in prison?

How about omitting in-state tuition benefits to illegal aliens?

How about stripping food stamps from people who sell them? They obviously do not need this benefit .

How about lowering food stamp benefits to all families whose children are being fed free breakfasts and free lunches, and in some cases even free dinners at school? Certainly they don’t need as much as before the free meals were available.

How about if we stop providing interpreters at taxpayer expense to illegals when they have business with the state?

How about if Gov. Lincoln Chafee pursued the welfare fraud exposed by Ken Block?

Might lower taxes attract new businesses into the state? Might lower taxes encourage some Rhode Islanders to start up a new business, thereby hiring some of the state’s unemployed? Might this “increase the spending power of consumers?”